Many uncommon, archaic, and obsolete words are found in [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s works. At present the definition of these can be confusing and leads to misunderstanding the statement presented by Tolkien. For this reason, some glossary have been arranged for the readers*

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Within [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s works, there are many '''uncommon''', archaic, obsolete and dialectal words (especially from the dialects of the United Kingdom) which might cause confusion to readers and may make a passage of text appear unwieldy.

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{{CompactTOC}}

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*(''Page numbers refer to'' [[The Book of Lost Tales Part 1]])

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==A==

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* '''abide''' - put up with, tolerate; await;

* '''abide''' - put up with, tolerate; await;

* '''abjure''' - renounce, turn away from

* '''abjure''' - renounce, turn away from

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* '''aloof''' - hanging over ones head

* '''aloof''' - hanging over ones head

* '''amiss''' - not as things should be

* '''amiss''' - not as things should be

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* '''an''' - if, 63, 155, 165, 171, 183, 201, 204, 211, 221, 235

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* '''an''' - if

* '''anon''' - soon; ever and anon often

* '''anon''' - soon; ever and anon often

* '''apace''' - quickly

* '''apace''' - quickly

* '''argent''' - silver

* '''argent''' - silver

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* '''arrassed''' - covered with arras (rich figured tapestry), 6

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* '''arrassed''' - covered with arras (rich figured tapestry)

* '''assuage''' - soften, lessen, soothe

* '''assuage''' - soften, lessen, soothe

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* '''astonied''' - stunned, astonished, 124, 207

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* '''astonied''' - stunned, astonished

* '''aught''' - anything

* '''aught''' - anything

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==B==

* '''bade''' - old past tense of "bid", pronounced "bad"

* '''bade''' - old past tense of "bid", pronounced "bad"

* '''baldric''' - a shoulder-belt for carrying horns, swords, etc

* '''baldric''' - a shoulder-belt for carrying horns, swords, etc

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* '''barrel''' - the long, cylindrical part of a key

* '''barrel''' - the long, cylindrical part of a key

* '''baseborn''' - ignoble, illegitimate

* '''baseborn''' - ignoble, illegitimate

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* '''bason''' formerly a common spelling of basin, 182 etc.

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* '''bason''' - formerly a common spelling of basin

* '''bay''' - (of a dog) bark or howl

* '''bay''' - (of a dog) bark or howl

* '''bebother''' - bring trouble upon

* '''bebother''' - bring trouble upon

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* '''belie''' - give a false impression

* '''belie''' - give a false impression

* '''benighted''' - in, or overtaken by, darkness

* '''benighted''' - in, or overtaken by, darkness

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* '''bent''' - open place covered with grass, 27

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* '''bent''' - open place covered with grass

* '''beset''' - attacked, assaulted by enemies

* '''beset''' - attacked, assaulted by enemies

* '''besom''' - a stiff broom made out of sticks and twigs

* '''besom''' - a stiff broom made out of sticks and twigs

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* '''booby''' - stupid person

* '''booby''' - stupid person

* '''boon''' - favour, gift

* '''boon''' - favour, gift

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* '''brakes''' thickets, 113

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* '''brakes''' - thickets

* '''brazen''' - made of brass

* '''brazen''' - made of brass

* '''brood''' - children

* '''brood''' - children

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* '''buckler''' - a small round shield, held in one hand

* '''buckler''' - a small round shield, held in one hand

* '''bulwark''' - a defensive structure

* '''bulwark''' - a defensive structure

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* '''burg''' - a fortress, or a fortified town

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* '''burg''' - walled and fortified town<ref name="LT2"/>

* '''burgeon''' - come forth, bud, begin to grow quickly

* '''burgeon''' - come forth, bud, begin to grow quickly

* '''burnished''' - polished

* '''burnished''' - polished

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==C==

* '''cairn''' - a mound of stones or rocks, used as a marker, memorial or tomb

* '''cairn''' - a mound of stones or rocks, used as a marker, memorial or tomb

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* <span id="carcanet"></span>'''carcanet''' - jeweled necklace

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* '''carcanet''' - jeweled necklace

* '''carouse''' - drink heavily

* '''carouse''' - drink heavily

* '''carven''' - old form of 'carved'

* '''carven''' - old form of 'carved'

* '''cataract''' - waterfall

* '''cataract''' - waterfall

* '''cesspool''' - a pool of waste-water or sewage

* '''cesspool''' - a pool of waste-water or sewage

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* '''chalcedony''' - a precious form of quartz* onyx, agate and cornelian are all types of chalcedony

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* '''chalcedony''' - a precious form of quartz onyx, agate and cornelian are all types of chalcedony

* '''champ''' - (of a horse) munch on the bit, showing eagerness

* '''champ''' - (of a horse) munch on the bit, showing eagerness

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* '''charger''' large dish, 214

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* '''charger''' large dish

* '''chime''' - agree with, be in harmony with

* '''chime''' - agree with, be in harmony with

* '''circlet''' - a thin band of precious metal, worn on the head

* '''circlet''' - a thin band of precious metal, worn on the head

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* '''clamant''' - clamorous, noisy, 37

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* '''clamant''' - clamorous, noisy

* '''clave''' - old past tense of cleave, in the sense 'stick, adhere'

* '''clave''' - old past tense of cleave, in the sense 'stick, adhere'

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* '''clomb''' - old past tense of climb, 132

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* '''clomb''' - old past tense of climb

* '''cloven''' - split into two

* '''cloven''' - split into two

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* '''coëval''' - born at the same time

* '''cob''' - spider (the name survives in the term 'cobweb')

* '''cob''' - spider (the name survives in the term 'cobweb')

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* '''coëval''' - born at the same time

* '''coffer''' - strongbox, especially for holding valuables

* '''coffer''' - strongbox, especially for holding valuables

* '''comely''' - pleasant-looking

* '''comely''' - pleasant-looking

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* '''concourse''' - large group of people; crowd

* '''concourse''' - large group of people; crowd

* '''confines''' - borders; borderlands

* '''confines''' - borders; borderlands

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* '''confusticate''' - a nonsense word, probably not intended to have a meaning (though its Latin roots can be interpreted 'beat with a cudgel')

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* '''confusticate''' - a nonsense word, probably not intended to have a meaning (though its Latin roots can be interpreted "beat with a cudgel")

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* '''constellate''' formed into a constellation, 218

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* '''constellate''' formed into a constellation

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* '''cools''' - coolnesses, 75

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* '''cony''' - rabbit

* '''cony''' - rabbit

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* '''cools''' - coolnesses

* '''coomb''' - short valley in the side of a hill or mountain

* '''coomb''' - short valley in the side of a hill or mountain

* '''coop''' - cage, imprison

* '''coop''' - cage, imprison

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* '''corbel''' basket, 208

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* '''corbel''' basket

* '''corslet''' - a piece of armour covering the body, but not the arms or legs

* '''corslet''' - a piece of armour covering the body, but not the arms or legs

* '''fey''' - 31. The old senses were ‘fated, approaching death; presaging death’. It seems very unlikely that the later sense ‘possessing or displaying magical, fairylike, or unearthly qualities’ (O.E.D. Supplement) was intended.

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* '''fey''' -The old senses were ‘fated, approaching death; presaging death’. It seems very unlikely that the later sense ‘possessing or displaying magical, fairylike, or unearthly qualities’ (O.E.D. Supplement) was intended.

* '''field''' - background color on a flag or shield in heraldry.

* '''field''' - background color on a flag or shield in heraldry.

* '''figured''' - marked with drawings or writing

* '''figured''' - marked with drawings or writing

* '''firth''' - An inlet of the sea at a wide river estuary

* '''firth''' - An inlet of the sea at a wide river estuary

* '''flagon''' - large jug or mug, usually used to hold wine or beer

* '''flagon''' - large jug or mug, usually used to hold wine or beer

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* '''flammifer''' - in Latin, flammifer means 'fiery', but Tolkien's usage is likely meant to suggest 'flame-bearer', as a reference to the blazing Silmaril borne by Eärendil.

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* '''flammifer''' - in Latin, flammifer means "fiery", but Tolkien's usage is likely meant to suggest "flame-bearer", as a reference to the blazing Silmaril borne by Eärendil.

* '''flank''' - the exposed side of an attacking or marching army

* '''flank''' - the exposed side of an attacking or marching army

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* '''flittermice''' - [[bats]], 34

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* '''flittermice''' - [[bats]]

* '''flotsam''' - floating wreckage; flotsam and jetsam items washed up by the sea, or a flood (also used figuratively)

* '''flotsam''' - floating wreckage; flotsam and jetsam items washed up by the sea, or a flood (also used figuratively)

* '''flummoxed''' - bewildered, disconcerted

* '''flummoxed''' - bewildered, disconcerted

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* '''forsooth''' - in truth, actually

* '''forsooth''' - in truth, actually

* '''fortnight''' - a period of two weeks

* '''fortnight''' - a period of two weeks

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* '''fosse''' - a defensive trench or ditch

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* '''fosse''' - a defensive trench or ditch; pit<ref name="LT2"/>

* '''founder''' - sink, after taking on water

* '''founder''' - sink, after taking on water

* '''fraught''' - full (of)

* '''fraught''' - full (of)

* '''freshet''' - a stream, or (strictly) a flood of fresh water

* '''freshet''' - a stream, or (strictly) a flood of fresh water

* '''furlong''' - one eighth of a mile (220 yards), or about one fifth of a kilometre

* '''furlong''' - one eighth of a mile (220 yards), or about one fifth of a kilometre

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==G==

* '''gaffer''' - a word meaning both "old man" and "foreman"* its use as the nickname of Hamfast Gamgee is probably mean to combine both meanings.

* '''gaffer''' - a word meaning both "old man" and "foreman"* its use as the nickname of Hamfast Gamgee is probably mean to combine both meanings.

* '''hang''' - to leave food, especially game, in the open until it becomes 'high' or tender

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* '''hang''' - to leave food, especially game, in the open until it becomes "high" or tender

* '''harbour''' - succor, assistance

* '''harbour''' - succor, assistance

* '''hardly''' - with great difficulty

* '''hardly''' - with great difficulty

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* '''hobble''' - limp, walk with difficulty

* '''hobble''' - limp, walk with difficulty

* '''hock''' - the middle joint of a horse's or pony's leg

* '''hock''' - the middle joint of a horse's or pony's leg

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* '''houseleek''' - a fleshy plant that grows on the walls and roofs of houses, 101

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* '''houseleek''' - a fleshy plant that grows on the walls and roofs of houses

* '''hue''' - form or shape

* '''hue''' - form or shape

* '''hummock''' - a small hill or knoll (in The Lord of the Rings, "hummock" is used metaphorically to describe the shape made by the [[palantír]] beneath Gandalf's cloak)

* '''hummock''' - a small hill or knoll (in The Lord of the Rings, "hummock" is used metaphorically to describe the shape made by the [[palantír]] beneath Gandalf's cloak)

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* '''hundredweight''' - the pun in Tolkien’s description of Bilbo’s 112th birthday as a “Hundredweight Feast” is based on the fact that “in Britain a hundredweight is 112 pounds.” <ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion|Companion]], p. 74. The reason for this is explained in [[The Hobbitonian Anthology]], pp. 160-164.</ref>

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* '''hundredweight''' - the pun in Tolkien's description of Bilbo's 112th birthday as a "Hundredweight Feast" is based on the fact that in Britain a hundredweight is 112 pounds. <ref>[[Wayne G. Hammond]], [[Christina Scull]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion]]'', p. 74.</ref><ref>[[Mark T. Hooker]], ''[[The Hobbitonian Anthology]]'', pp. 160-164.</ref>

* '''hunter's moon''' - the full moon of mid- to late October

* '''hunter's moon''' - the full moon of mid- to late October

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* '''hythe''' - a small harbour or haven, especially on a river

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* '''hythe''' - a small harbour or haven, especially on a river, "low place on a river bank for landing a boat"<ref>{{webcite|author=[[Andreas Möhn]]|articleurl=http://lalaith.vpsurf.de/Tolkien/Bombadil_in_the_Shire.html|articlename=Bombadil in the Shire|dated=|website=Lalaith |accessed=16 May 2012}}</ref>

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==I==

* '''ill''' - evil, wrong

* '''ill''' - evil, wrong

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* '''inaureoled''' surrounded with a halo, 230 (the word is only recorded in the O.E.D. in a poem by Francis Thompson, 1897).

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* '''inaureoled''' surrounded with a halo, (the word is only recorded in the O.E.D. in a poem by Francis Thompson, 1897).

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* '''jacinth''' - blue, 27

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==J==

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* '''jacinth''' - blue<ref name="LT2"/>

* '''jetsam''' - items thrown overboard from a ship, and later washed ashore

* '''jetsam''' - items thrown overboard from a ship, and later washed ashore

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==K==

* '''keen''' - sharp

* '''keen''' - sharp

* '''kerb''' - a raised edge to a road or path

* '''kerb''' - a raised edge to a road or path

* '''kindle''' - set fire to, begin to burn

* '''kindle''' - set fire to, begin to burn

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* '''lampads''' - 29. The word is only recorded in the O.E.D. (first used by Coleridge) of the seven lamps of fire burning before the throne of God in the Book of Revelation, iv.5.

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==L==

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* '''lampads''' - The word is only recorded in the O.E.D. (first used by Coleridge) of the seven lamps of fire burning before the throne of God in the Book of Revelation, chapter 4 verse 5.

* '''lave''' - wash, bathe

* '''lave''' - wash, bathe

* '''lay''' - a poem that is meant to be sung

* '''lay''' - a poem that is meant to be sung

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* '''league''' - a measure of distance, usually considered to be equivalent to three miles

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* '''league''' - a measure of distance, about three miles<ref name="LT2"/>

* '''leechcraft''' - the practice of magical medicine. The name is based on the Celtic word for ''stone''. The animal leech (Latin: ''sanguisuga'', literally: ''blood sucker'') is named for the healer (leech), rather than the other way around. <ref>[[The Hobbitonian Anthology]], pp. 165-172.</ref>

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* '''leechcraft''' - the practice of magical medicine. The name is based on the Celtic word for ''stone''. The animal leech (Latin: ''sanguisuga'', literally: ''blood sucker'') is named for the healer (leech), rather than the other way around. <ref>[[Mark T. Hooker]], ''[[The Hobbitonian Anthology]]'', pp. 165-172.</ref>

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* '''[[legendarium]]''' - term coined by Tolkien to mean [[Arda]], in all of its mythological entirety

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* '''[[legendarium]]''' - term coined by Tolkien to mean the entirety of his works concerning his imagined world of [[Eä]]

* '''pleasance''' - "A pleasure-ground, usually attached to a mansion; sometimes a secluded part of a garden, but more often a separate enclosure laid out with shady walks, trees and shrubs..." (O.E.D.) This sense is present in pleasa(u)nces 75, 125, but in rest and pleasance 69 the sense is "enjoyment, pleasure"; in nor did he have lack of pleasance 64 either meaning may be intended, but I think probably the former.

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* '''pleasance''' - "A pleasure-ground, usually attached to a mansion; sometimes a secluded part of a garden, but more often a separate enclosure laid out with shady walks, trees and shrubs..." (O.E.D.)

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* '''portage''' - transporting a boat overland

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* '''pled''' old past tense of plead, 186

* '''pled''' old past tense of plead, 186

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* '''plenilune''' - the time of full moon, 231 (see Letters p. 310).

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* '''plenilune''' - the time of full moon (see ''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien|Letters]]'' p. 310).

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* '''portage''' - transporting a boat overland

* '''portent''' - omen, sign

* '''portent''' - omen, sign

* '''postern''' - a back- or side-entrance

* '''postern''' - a back- or side-entrance

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* '''pricks''' - (spurs his horse), rides fast, 122. [[Oromë]] pricks over the plain echoes the first line of The Faerie Queene, A Gentle Knight was pricking on the plaine.

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* '''pricks''' - (spurs his horse), rides fast. [[Oromë]] pricks over the plain echoes the first line of The Faerie Queene, A Gentle Knight was pricking on the plaine.

* '''profound''' - deep

* '''profound''' - deep

* '''prosy''' - dull, contented with the commonplace

* '''prosy''' - dull, contented with the commonplace

* '''provender''' - food

* '''provender''' - food

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* '''puissant''' - powerful, influential

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* '''puissant''' - powerful<ref name="LT2"/>

* '''purloin''' - steal

* '''purloin''' - steal

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==Q==

* '''quaff''' - drink deeply

* '''quaff''' - drink deeply

* '''quail''' - give way to, be intimidated by

* '''quail''' - give way to, be intimidated by

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==R==

* '''raiment''' - clothing

* '''raiment''' - clothing

* '''rearguard''' - that part of an army set to cover its rear ranks, especially in retreat

* '''rearguard''' - that part of an army set to cover its rear ranks, especially in retreat

* '''weregild''' - a payment in compensation for a death (literally "man-gold")

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* '''weregild''' - a payment in compensation for a death (literally "man-money")

* '''wheedle''' - coax, persuade

* '''wheedle''' - coax, persuade

* '''whelm''' - engulf, cover

* '''whelm''' - engulf, cover

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* '''wherefore''' - for what (or which) reason

* '''wherefore''' - for what (or which) reason

* '''whet''' - sharpen

* '''whet''' - sharpen

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* '''whickering''' - 231 (whickering sparks). The verb whicker meant to laugh or titter, or of a horse to whinny, but the O.E.D. cites a line from Masefield ''the wall-top grasses whickered in the breeze'', and the 1920 Supplement to the Dictionary gives a meaning "to make a hurtling sound", with a single citation where the word is used of a thunderbolt "whickering through the sky". In the 1962 version of The Man in the Moon the word flickering occurs in this verse.

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* '''whickering''' - The verb whicker meant to laugh or titter, or of a horse to whinny, but the O.E.D. cites a line from Masefield ''the wall-top grasses whickered in the breeze'', and the 1920 Supplement to the Dictionary gives a meaning "to make a hurtling sound", with a single citation where the word is used of a thunderbolt "whickering through the sky". In the 1962 version of ''[[The Man in the Moon]]'' the word flickering occurs in this verse.

Latest revision as of 23:28, 5 November 2012

Within J.R.R. Tolkien's works, there are many uncommon, archaic, obsolete and dialectal words (especially from the dialects of the United Kingdom) which might cause confusion to readers and may make a passage of text appear unwieldy.

fey -The old senses were ‘fated, approaching death; presaging death’. It seems very unlikely that the later sense ‘possessing or displaying magical, fairylike, or unearthly qualities’ (O.E.D. Supplement) was intended.

field - background color on a flag or shield in heraldry.

figured - marked with drawings or writing

firth - An inlet of the sea at a wide river estuary

flagon - large jug or mug, usually used to hold wine or beer

flammifer - in Latin, flammifer means "fiery", but Tolkien's usage is likely meant to suggest "flame-bearer", as a reference to the blazing Silmaril borne by Eärendil.

leaguer - an encampment or encampments, especially for defensive purposes

leave - permission

lee - shelter, especially from wind and weather

leech - healer

leechcraft - the practice of magical medicine. The name is based on the Celtic word for stone. The animal leech (Latin: sanguisuga, literally: blood sucker) is named for the healer (leech), rather than the other way around. [5]

legendarium - term coined by Tolkien to mean the entirety of his works concerning his imagined world of Eä

V

viol - an old instrument, usually with six strings, similar to a violin but held in a vertical position like a 'cello

W

waif - homeless person

wain - wagon; The Wain the constellation of the Plough or Big Dipper

wan - pale

wards - the "teeth" of a key

ware - old form of aware

waver - shimmer, flicker

waver2 - show indecision

wax - grow stronger; increase

waylay - intercept, prevent from going forward

wayward - uncontrollable, unpredictable

web(s) - woven fabric

wellnigh - almost, very nearly

weregild - a payment in compensation for a death (literally "man-money")

wheedle - coax, persuade

whelm - engulf, cover

whence - from where

whereat - for which reason

wherefore - for what (or which) reason

whet - sharpen

whickering - The verb whicker meant to laugh or titter, or of a horse to whinny, but the O.E.D. cites a line from Masefield the wall-top grasses whickered in the breeze, and the 1920 Supplement to the Dictionary gives a meaning "to make a hurtling sound", with a single citation where the word is used of a thunderbolt "whickering through the sky". In the 1962 version of The Man in the Moon the word flickering occurs in this verse.